Kingdom Of The Giants :: Belfast Giants Fan Community, News & Views
No League Action Against Doucet
10-Nov-2011Belfast Giants forward Benoit Doucet will be available to participate in this weekends games at the Odyssey Arena having escaped a ban following speculation and EIHL disciplinary assessment over his hit on Braehead Clan’s Sam Zajac.
13 minutes into the second period of last Saturday’s game Doucet was given a 2+10 minute penalty by referee Moray Hanson for checking from behind. This and the subsequent highlights video that was published on YouTube sparked fury among many fans and lit up discussion forums across the league with speculation of further disciplinary action.
The EIHL announced it would further investigate the hit and take any supplementary action required. This has today been concluded with Doucet being assessed of undertaking a fair hit and his 2+10 minute penalty being expunged from his disciplinary record.
The Elite League review concluded that Zajac was in contol of the puck, thus eligible to be checked. That Doucet was to the front of Zajac for the check and that it was not directed at his head.
This reassessment to light following the consultation of a Slo Motion Video of the check in question, one that subsequently changed a lot of peoples first impressions of the hit.
Doucet will therefore be available for selection when the Fife Flyers and Cardiff Devils visit the Odyssey Arena this weekend as the Giants return to Belfast after 4 consecutive games on the road.
Patrick Smyth
Live Scores
Last Game
- Sat 18 Feb
- vs Flyers, W 7-1
- Giants Goals: Pelle, Kuiper, Dowd, Peacock, Clarke, Rebek, Hoffman
- Flyers Goals: Gunn
League Standings
| P | TEAM | GP | W(OT) | L(OT) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | 35 | 28(0) | 4(3) | 59 |
| 2 | Panthers | 35 | 25(0) | 8(2) | 52 |
| 3 | Steelers | 29 | 25(0) | 4(0) | 50 |
| 4 | Blaze | 34 | 22(0) | 12(0) | 44 |
| 5 | Devils | 33 | 18(0) | 8(7) | 43 |
| 6 | Clan | 32 | 19(0) | 12(1) | 39 |
| 7 | Capitals | 34 | 11(0) | 20(3) | 25 |
| 8 | Stingrays | 35 | 9(0) | 22(4) | 22 |
| 9 | Stars | 34 | 5(0) | 25(4) | 14 |
| 10 | Flyers | 31 | 4(0) | 23(4) | 12 |
Giants' Stat Leaders
| Points | Craig Peacock | 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 24 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 33 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 188 |